Michelle Mercier has participated very successfully in recognized equestrian competition for the past 13 years. Many years were spent with Chicago area professionals Ken & Erin Dierks who remain great friends and mentors today!

Michelle has won numerous awards from the United States Eventing Association at the regional level & placed on national leaderboards. She is a long-time member of the Illinois Dressage & Combined Training Association.

Since 2010, Michelle has trained extensively with advanced, international riders. She was a member of the North American Young Rider Championships silver medal team (2010) under the guidance of coach Jonathon Holling.

Along with her Young Rider mount, Sir Malcolm, Michelle went on to compete successfully through the FEI 2-star level of Eventing competition in 2010-2011.

For the past three years, Michelle has ridden exclusively with Olympic gold medalist, Leslie Law (UK) and advanced rider Lesley Grant-Law (Canada). She has been successfully training her young horse, Prince of Kiltealy.

Michelle has a passion for teaching, served as an English department teacher assistant at University High School, completed student teacher hours at middle schools in Florida, and has been instructing beginner riding lessons and coaching more advanced students for 7 years.

Michelle's structured teaching style and education began by advancing through the testing and certification process of United States Pony Club, an international organization that adheres to strict standards of knowledge and safety.
Education includes both unmounted classroom testing and hands-on teaching assessments as well as riding certifications. Michelle earned her Pony Club B certification in 2009.

A favorite instructor and mentor, Michelle is frequently asked to teach clinics for young pony club members in Peoria, Springfield, and Iowa and her reviews by Pony Club leadership are excellent. Michelle has also conducted testings for Pony Club junior riders at various clubs in Illinois and Iowa.

Michelle is skilled in dressage, cross-country, stadium jumping, and more recently represented the 2014-2015 Florida Gulf Coast University Equestrian hunt seat team at Zones national finals.
She has qualified to ride at the national American Eventing Championships more than ten times with five different horses through the Preliminary level.

Michelle graduates with honors from Florida Gulf Coast University (December 2015) with a degree in Criminal Justice and hopes to participate in the United States Eventing Association’s national Instructor Certification Program.

Currently, Michelle teaches weekly lessons in dressage, flatwork, and jumping for students ages 4 – 60. Beginners will start in private lessons on the lunge line.
Michelle is available for coaching & course walks at regional shows and accepts horses in training at Hunter Oaks Equestrian May - December. January - April, she continues her personal training at Law Eventing.